How Often Should You Service Your HVAC System?

Your heating and cooling system is the hardest-working appliance in your home — and the most expensive to replace. The good news: most breakdowns are preventable with routine maintenance.

The industry standard is twice a year: a cooling tune-up in spring before the heat arrives, and a heating tune-up in fall before temperatures drop. Each visit covers cleaning coils, checking refrigerant levels, testing electrical connections, and calibrating the thermostat.

Skipping maintenance has a compounding cost. A dirty system works harder, uses 10–25% more energy, and wears out components years early. We've seen $150 tune-ups prevent $2,000 compressor failures more times than we can count.

Between professional visits, you can help: change or clean filters every 1–3 months, keep the outdoor unit clear of leaves and debris, and never close more than 20% of your vents — it strains the blower motor.

If your system is over 12–15 years old, needs frequent repairs, or your energy bills keep climbing despite maintenance, it may be time to talk about a high-efficiency replacement.